Abandon ship The
call given to leave the ship quickly, in the case of an emergency.

Ahead A
direction referring to the bow, or front of the ship. Also, used
to tell the ships helmsman
to move the vessel forward, and at a certain speed. For example:
1. Ahead slow, or ahead dead slow.
2. Ahead 1/4, or ahead 1/3.
3. Ahead 1/2, or ahead 2/3.
4. Ahead Flank, or ahead full.

Aft The
back of the ship. See also Stern.

All stop A
request for the engines to be stopped completely.

Amidships The
center point of the ship. Also known as the middle.

Anchor A
large, and very heavy, arrow shaped piece of steel or iron, used
to help keep the ship from drifting or being carried off by
the currents or tides. And to minimize or limit the ships drift.

Anchor chain The
large, and very heavy chain that retains the anchor(s) to a ship.

Anchor well The
place on a ship, where the anchor(s), and their chains are stored.

-B-

B.P. The
measurement of "Between Perpendiculars", the vertical frame spars that
make up the bow and stern sections of the ship, it is this that shows the base
dimensions, and determines the real "overall length" of a ship.

Back A
request to the helmsman, and the engine room for put the engines in reverse.

Blue Ribband The
award given to the fastest ship, to cross the Atlantic ocean, and do
so in a record time.

Boat deck The
deck on which the lifeboats reside. This deck is now enclosed on most
or all of the modern ships.

Boilers The
gigantic boilers, are exactly what they are called. They boil water
to produce steam. This steam pressure is used to drive the turbines.
See also Engines, Turbines.

Bollard The
heavy to headed steel or iron device used to tie up a ship to its pier.

Bon'Voyage Something
nice you say to someone taking a trip.

Bow The
front of the ship. See also Forward.

Bow stem The
stem or post, the is in, or protrudes from the bow of a ship.

Bow thrusters The
little fans, that are built into the bow, under water to turn the ship
for docking. Or
they can be used for stationary control and movement.

Breadth The
measurement of a ships width at the amidships, on the waterline. This
measurement determines the exact width of the ship, in feet and inches.

Bridge The
command and control center of a ship. See also Forecastle.

Bridge deck The
deck level where the bridge, wheel house, etc. are located on a ship.

-C-

Capstans The
large brass or bronze "mushroom" shaped blobs on the deck of a
ship.

Captain The
man or woman in charge of a ship or sailing vessel. A ships captain, is
also known as her master.

Cargo The
freight, or items a ship carries to a designated destination.

Cargo Manifest The
list of all of the cargo that the ship is carrying.

Cast off To
drop the mooring lines, and begin a voyage.

Charts Their term
for the "maps" the captain and his officers use to navigate the
ship.

Coal The
coal fired engines have not been used since about the tim ot the first
world war. The industry shifted engines to oil fire, after that. And
later in the 1940's and early 1950's most of the ships were then converted
to diesel engines.

Compass A
small device that will always point to magnetic north. This
is the direction of the known magnetic north pole of the earth,
and is used to help navigate the ship.

Compass deck The
top deck, where the compass tower was placed. Pre- 1930's ships.

Cranes The
cranes are used to load and unload heavy cargo from the ship.

Crew The
people who operate the ship. And assist the passengers.

Crossing A
term for a ship sailing East, or West bound, to or from another place.

Crows nest A
place where lookouts can watch for reefs, scholls, or even approaching
icebergs.

Cruise To
ride around on a cruise ship.

Cruise line The
company, that owns, operates, maintains, and manages a cruise ship.

Cruise ship A
ship that is built for only cruising, and giving its passengers
fun and a relaxed time.

Cruising What
people do on a cruise ship...

Current A
directional flow of a body of water, usually fast enough to take a
ship and / or persons out to sea, in a relatively short period of time.

-D-

Davit The
place a lifeboat sits, until it is needed. And this same device is
also used to raise, or lower the lifeboat into or from the sea. See
also Wellin Davit.

Deck The
wood planks, that make up the floor of the vessel.

Depth sound A
process of using Sonar to figure out how deep the water is
beneath you,
and to see what the conditions are like on the ocean floor.

Diesel Many
of the newer ships, no longer have the original coal, or oil fired
steam engines. They all have the modern turbo-electric diesel engines.
These engines are far more efficient, and produce vastly greater
horsepower. And are much quieter than their predecessors.

Dock The
place where the ship will be tied to a pier. This is where the ship
be fuelled, loaded with cargo, and boarded by her passengers.

Dock side A
pier, or port system. With equipment, and personnel to assist the
ship.

Docking The
process of "tying" a ship up to a pier, so the tides won't pull it away.

Docking bridge The
bridge control center located on the Fantail.

Draught The
depth in feet, that a ships hull is under water, from the water- line
to the keel. See also Waterline.

Dry dock The
place at the shipyard where the sea water can be drained and
the keel of the ship may be repaired, modified, cleaned, or painted.

-E-

Engine Room The
place on a ship where the "engines" are located, and controlled.

Engineer A
crew member of the engineering staff, who works in the engine room.

Engineering The
process of designing the mechanics of something. The "term"
applied to a
ships Engine Room.

Engines The
motors of the ship. These are connected to the shafts that turn
the screws.

Engraving The
place in the shipyard known as the "graving dock", where the skin
of a ship is applied.

-F-

Fan tail The
aft deck space of a ship.

Fathom A
fathom is approx. 6 feet. Water depth is determined to be "n" fathoms
deep.

Fitting out The
process of which a ship is being constructed and then subsequently
launched. This is where the ships interiors will
be added, and all the internal workings of the ship will
be completed. Also, most of the external superstructures are also
finished. Her accommodations are also finished, and living spaces
are completed, and furnished.

Fittings The
"hard" parts, and features of a vessel.

Flooding A
term for "the ship is taking on water!"

Fo'c'sle An
"old" sailors term for the forecastle deck, or its spaces.

Forecastle The
area that comprises the main bridge, signal bridges, and and
the wheel house of a ship. The Captain and his officers can
usually be found here. Also known as the Fo'c'sle.

Funnel A
large oval or cylindrical tube, from which the ships exhaust is
released. In some cases, some ships actually have more than
funnel.

Furnishings The
interiors and furniture of a vessel.

-G-

Galley The
kitchen aboard a ship.

Gang plank A
walkway used by the crew or passengers, to board a vessel.

Gang way A
term for the place where a "gang plank" is found, or a term for "Clear
the area I am coming through here."

GRT Gross
Registered Tonnage. A measurement of a ships listed weight
in the passenger areas as prior to her fitting out.

-H-

Hardcover A
term for "turn the wheel all the way over." The vessel will turn
in its own
tight turning radios.

Head A
term for the potty, facilities, rest room, "Jon", Throne, etc...
:o)

Helm The
wheel, and the controls of the vessel. On the bridge.

Hold A
place to store all the stuff, during a voyage.

Hull The
ships "body". In which are contained the decks, the cabins, and all
mechanics the comprise the ship. Also a town in England.

-I-

Ice field A
group or collection of smaller pieces of ice moving together. This
is sometimes
known as an "ice pack".

Ice flow A
field of ice moving in the currents of the water. Very dangerous.

Ice pack See
Ice flow.

Iceberg A
large frozen mass of ice, that can be very very large, and is hazardous
to ships.

Iceberg right ahead! What
you would say if you saw an iceberg in the path of the ship ship
you were travelling on.

Ice Patrol The
job the U.S. Coast Guard does to watch for ice bergs.
See also IIP.

IIP International
Ice Patrol. Founded by the US
Congress. It is run by the US
Coast Guard.

IMM International
Maritime Mercantile. Now defunct. Immigrant
- A person who "moves" themselves from one country to live permanently.

Immigrant A
person who migrates from one place to another.

Immigrants A
group of people who are immigrating.

Immigration The
process of person(s) who are migrating from one place to another.

-J-

Jack staff The
aft flag pole, located on the vessels stern.

Juggernaut A
term coined, by the author "Jules Vern", for the "Nautilus", the
fictional Capt. Nemo's submersible.

-K-

Keel The
base line and center beams of the ships hull, at the bottom center.

Kiel A
city in Germany.

Knot A
nautical mile. The length of this is approx. 6,000 feet. A
bit more than a standard
(SAE) mile, which is 5,280 feet.

Knots The
speed in nautical miles per hour, a vessel is travelling.

-L-

Lifeboat A
small wooden boat, that can usually hold about 60 people, to help
them escape a sinking ship. A lifeboat is usually about 40'
long, and 8' wide, and 4' deep.

Life raft A
small inflatable raft that can hold a small group of people.

Lifelong A
small circular ring or tube, used to keep a single individual afloat.

Lift The
elevator or lift on a ship, for passengers or crew to easily go from
one deck to another.

Lieutenant A
rank given to a commissioned officer, of the military.

Lower away The
call given to quickly lower the lifeboats, in the case of an emergency.

-M-

Marconi The
Marconi wireless is a marvel invention. It uses a series of dots
and dashes, to send letters and numbers through the air, as an
electric signal. i.e. S O S
= ". . . - - - . . .".

Marine A
broadly used term for the "small" craft, and non-military, or non-commercial
maritime.

Maritime A
term for anything having to do with the ocean or sea going industry.

Master The
Captain, or "Skipper" of a vessel. It's highest ranking officer.

Mast The
large and very tall wooden posts that stick out of the decks on a
ship, and the main mast, normally has the crows nest on it.

Mate A
crew member, or seaman.

Mess hall The
dining spaces aboard a ship.

Moor This
means to tie a ship to its pier.

Muster To
come front and center, to attend, or be counted present. All
crew must "muster" when called by their superiors.

-N-

Navigate To
use a map or chart, and a compass, and traverse the distance safely.

Navigation The
process of navigating. Using the tools to follow a course and travel.

Nautical The
term given for an "ocean" or "sea" based subject.

Nautilus The
name given to Jules Verns fictional submarine. From the story of20,000
leagues under the sea.

North pole The
northern most point on the planet Earth.

North star A
large bright star, seen at night, used to assist the navigation of ships
at sea.

-O-

Ocean A
very large, and very deep body of water on the planet.
For example, the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic.

Officer A
ranking crew member. Usually one of the Captains assistants.

Oceanographer A
person who studies the oceans and their creatures.

Oceanographic A
term given to an institution or group of oceanographers.

Oceanography The
study of the oceans, and their creatures.

Overboard A
term for someone who has either fallen, or jumped over the side of the
ship.

-P-

Pacific The
largest body of water on Earth.

Particulars The
specifications of a given ship. Her dimensions, weight, etc.

Pennant The
flag, insignia, or logo, of a company. Each ship files the flag of
their company.

Pier The
dock, or mooring place for a ship.

Port 1.
A place for a ship to go. i.e. New York, or Miami, or Southampton. 2.
The left side of a ship.

Port authority The
governing group of persons, who own, runs, maintains, and manages the port.

Port hole The
window in the hull of a ship, you can look out of. And portholes,
are found
on the port and starboard sides of a ship.

Promenade deck The
deck below the boat deck.

Props An
acronym for propellers. See also Screws.

Purser A
member of the crew who will assist you, somewhat like a secretary.

Pursers office The
office where the purser works, and stores items to be held.

-Q-

Quartermaster The
usual rank of a ships helmsman. The man who steers a ship.

Quarters A
place where a passenger or crew member lives.

-R-

Radio Room The
room on a ship, where the radio, and it's operator can be found.

Rake The
angle in degrees that something leans from it's nearest vertical center.

Rank A
designation of authority, in levels, assigned to members of the ships crew.

Rigging The
cables, ropes, ties, etc., onboard a ship.

Rudder The
big flat piece of steel, that when turned, will steer a ship.

-S-

Salon A
fancy room to sit and talk or read.

Sea A
large body of water, bigger than a river, but smaller than an ocean. For
example, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Aegean Sea, etc...

Screws The
ships propellers. These are fan shaped, and have 3 or more blades,
that are angled, and are rounded off. And are used to propel
the ship forward or backwards.

Sextant A
device used to aid the captain, in the navigation of his or her ship.

Shafts The
large elongated cylinders, made of nickel, steel, or bronze that
turn the propellers.

Sick bay The
hospital, or doctors office, aboard a ship.

SOLAS Safety
Of Life At Sea. An act of the US government, to prevent death at
sea.

Starboard The
right side of a ship.

Station A
place where a crew person works.

Stateroom Another
name for a cabin aboard a ship.

Steward A
male cabin attendant.

Stewardess A
female cabin attendant.

Stokers The
brave young men who stoked the ships boilers full of coal. To
keep it moving, so it can reach its destination.

Submarine The
underwater version of a ship.

Submersible A
craft that can go underwater and explore, and collect samples.

Suite A
fancy and expensive cabin.

Sun deck The
top most deck of a ship. Because it is always in the sun, during the day.

-T-

Tide pool A
small body of water, in which remains an amount of water after the tides
have come
and gone.

Tides The
rising and falling of the level of the oceans, or seas. This
is due to the pull on the surface of the earth from the moon in our
planets orbit.

Tie off To
tie up a ship to the pier, much like docking.

Tie up See
Tie off.

Tri Blade A
propeller with 3 blades on it. This was the common type before the
1930's.

Trials The
first time the ship sails on its own power, and is put to sea by
her Captain, to work out any kinks she might have. It is also a
time to do some checking, and testing of the ship features and functionality.

Triple Expansion Engines The
type of engines, that many early 20th century ocean liners had been given
to provide power, and propulsion.

Triple screw A
vessel being driven by 3 propellers.

Tug See
Tugboat.

Tugboat A
tugboat, is a small or mini "worker" to push, pull, or move the ships in
the harbour.

Turbines A
type of engine drive, that uses high pressure steam to turn a set of angled
blades, and
turn the shafts, that turn the propellers..

Twin screw A
vessel driven by 2 propellers.

-U-

-V-

Vessel Another
name for a ship, or boat.

-W-

Water A
product of nature. The earth has lots of it. Chemical formula
is H2O.

Watertight Something
that can not be penetrated by, leak water or any other liquids.

Watertight compartments A
section of a ship that is watertight.

Well deck The
recessed deck space at the bow or stern of the ship, one level below the
poop deck space.

Wheel The
steering wheel, used to "drive" or "steer" a vessel.

Wheel house The
place on the bridge where the wheel is.

Waterline The
waterline, is exactly what it says. This is the location where
the surface of the water meets the hull of the ship.

Well deck The
well deck is the place between the passenger and crew areas of
the ship and the bow, and the stern. This usually has the cranes,
cargo hatches, etc. And is normally off limits to the ships
passengers. As it is considered crew spaces.

Wellin Davits The
mechanical arms, that with ropes, operated the lifeboats
on the Titanic, and her sisters.

Wheel The
wheel will turn the rudder, and steer the ship.

Wheel house The
place where the wheel is. Usually on the bridge.

WHOI Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institute. Where Dr. Robert D. Ballard works.
He discovered the RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912.

Winch a
small flat or squat looking "crane" style cable reel, with a crank, or
motor to return the line.

Windlass A
cable that runs from the deck, or a line winch, to a mast, funnel, or other
large object.